Subaru gives the Legacy range a facelift

Subaru has given its all-wheel-drive Legacy line-up a facelift, especially around the headlights, bonnet and front bumper.

But the changes to the 2002 model range - on sale from today - go further. Engineers have reworked the suspension and bean-counters have reduced the price.

Significant engineering changes include an aluminium bonnet to reduce weight by 7.5kg over the front wheels, the strengthening of the rear suspension sub-frame, improvements to the oil pump and engine piston rings to improve friction and thus economy, and a revised flywheel for smoother clutch take-up in 2.5-litre manual models.

The Legacy range comes with four-lamp headlights for better visibility, including redesigned foglights in the front bumper, and the mesh design in the grille has been changed. Some models get new alloy wheels.

Inside, the range gets twin trip-meters, improved lumbar support in the seats, new pattened cloth and door trims and adjustable rear head restraints.

The power-adjustable sports seats in the RSK B4 and GTB have been improved, too.

The Remarkable is a higher-specification 2.5-litre model. It was shown to Subaru dealers in Queenstown last week and comes with leather upholstery, sunroof, ABS anti-lock brakes, dual front and side airbags and Vehicle Dynamic Control, an electronic device borrowed from the H6 and designed to keep the car on the straight and narrow.

The automatic transmission in Sportshift models is an adaptive system which selects the best gear ratio for the conditions via sensors and a variable torque centre differential.

In normal conditions, 45 per cent of the torque is fed to the front axle and 55 per cent to the rear, but the differential can vary drive to each wheel as the conditions demand.

The centre differential in manual models splits torque 50:50 in normal conditions.

Subaru New Zealand set out to reduce the prices - down an average of about $2000 - of the Legacy 2-litre, 2.5-litre and 3-litre range from day one.

"We always knew this year was going to be challenging because of the way the exchange rate went last year," said general manager Wallis Dumper.

"The current climate meant our prices had moved just a bit too close to a number of European products. Although we have the invisible advantage of all-wheel-drive, we decided to re-establish the gap between them and us."

Dumper said Subaru New Zealand held one of the highest market shares for the brand in the world and was highly respected by parent company Fuji Heavy Industries. "Cooperation and a reasonably stable currency allowed us to reposition prices."

The Legacy wagon is the most popular model in the Subaru lineup. "We have had success with other niche models like the Impreza hatchback but the Legacy is our hero model.

"Sales of the Outback have risen to a point where it may become our top-selling model in 2001, further proof that these cars are ideal for New Zealand."

The high-performance RSK B4 has been the success story of the sedan range. "Until the RSK B4, the market in New Zealand only had the choice of Australian V8s or much more expensive European hardware," said Dumper. "We've proved there is a market for a more compact high-performance sedan."

Subaru is playing on its all-wheel-drive reputation in its advertising campaign for the Legacy. It figured that New Zealanders often talk about the weather - so the ads refer to the car's "all-weather-drive". The range costs between $39,990 and $65,990.